WALTER ALIBEY
Todds Road Roman Catholic Primary School is on its way back to the top of sports and other extra-curriculum activities in T&T.
Only last week the school was the beneficiary of sporting equipment, ranging from bats, cricket balls, footballs, basketballs, badminton rackets, shuttlecock and hoops, as well as plants and rabbits from Fizes Hosein, president of the International Sports and Cultural Academy and ‘D’ Biggest Educational, Sporting, Technology Inc.
Hosein and his NGOs have been a bright spark for many underprivileged individuals and schools in T&T, as they continue to provide opportunities for development and growth.
Principal Rene Ramoutar said the equipment, plants and rabbits could not have come at a better time for his institution as plans are afoot to set his students on a path of academics and extra-curricular activities which he assures, the country will benefit from in the coming years.
“We were once a powerhouse in sports in the past years but this slowed down for different reasons. We have now started getting back in it based on a mandate by the Caroni Educational District for extra-curricular activities to be implemented at the schools in the area” Ramoutar said.
He revealed his institution has in fact, gone beyond the call of the CED, as it provides students with sports activities including cricket, football and netball as well as agriculture, rabbits rearing and talipia rearing.
“Our girls and boys are now involved in playing cricket and we will be entering the National Primary Schools competitions in all sports again soon” Ramoutar said.
He thanked Hosein and his organizations and promised to use their equipment for the betterment of the school and the production of more all-round individuals.
His school has been using the extra curricular activities such as agriculture, to channel students into areas where they can make a livelihood in the future. Lorraine Katerson, a Standard One teacher and 4H voluntary leader at the school, explained at one time they grew so many crops that they could have sold.
Ramoutar pointed out they will also be encouraging students to grow crops at home for consumption. “Not all the children are academically inclined and therefore we can provide avenues for some of them to get into farming or professional football or cricket.
“We are in fact, seeing where students have become dedicated to growing plants and taking care of the rabbits, whether a teacher is there or not and this will auger well for the country in the fight against crime because of the responsibility and commitment being shown.”
The school is equipped with a dedicated staff, capable of leading this development drive, Ramoutar said, pointing to OJT teacher Vishram Bickeree who has a degree in agriculture, Katerson Mark Keith—who helps with everything in the school, among others.
Member of Parliament (MP) for the area Maxi Cuffie, who attended the school, was expected to be at the school for the presentation by Hosein but could not make it because of work commitments.
Hosein yesterday called on corporate T&T to come on board and help the nation’s primary schools and young individuals as they are the future of the nation. Hosein said his organisations have been on this development drive for many years and have never asked government for assistance.
Of late, however, he admitted he feels heart broken by the rising spate of violence crimes, most of which have been committed by the nation’s youths.
In addition to sports and agriculture, Hosein also called for spirituality and religion to be at the forefront at schools, saying they more critical than ever.